Global Politics and Contemporary Art
The end of World War II saw a dramatic shift in how the idea of a "world" was understood, particularly by visual artists and their viewers. Focusing on art after 1945, this course will examine artistic production and reception under various forms of authoritarian rule. Special emphasis will be given to artistic production in countries newly liberated from Western and Japanese imperial rule. Given the vast scope of this subject, this course will adopt a case study model. Included among the anticipated case studies are works made during the rule of Léopold Senghor in Senegal, the interventions of Cildo Meireles in post-1964 Brazil, and ink painting in Maoist China. At the broadest level, this course is itself a case study that seeks to explore different ways of understanding art's manifold relationships to various modes of social regulation categorized under the rubric of politics. Please note that students in past years have successfully petitioned to have this course fulfill the Humanities Area Distribution Requirement (HU).
Textbooks/Other Materials: Provided on Canvas
Course Requirements:
Intended Audience: Undergraduates of any background
Class Format: Two 80-minute lectures per week
Estimated Cost of Materials: $0
HISTART Distribution Requirements: Asia, Europe and the US, Modern and Contemporary
Fulfills LSA Humanities Requirements
